electronic powder dispenser

[Myerslake2005]

Hi,   I'm  considering purchasing an electronic powder dispenser to speed up by reloading times especially when reloading for my handguns.  Considering either the Lyman, RCBS, or Pacts.  Looking for recomendations.

Thanks,  Brent

[PA-Joe]

It's a lot faster if you get yourself a Little Dandy Powder measure setup. Calibrate the bushings and then go with it.

[Questor]

Wouldn't a powder measure be a lot faster? I'm not sure why electronic powder dispensers are used. Can you clue me in?

[Haywire Haywood]

The reason for an electronic powder measure is charge weight accuracy.  It trickles the powder into a pan and weighs each charge.  It does this at the touch of a button while you can be doing other things.. preparing brass, seating the last bullet, etc etc. A manual powder thrower measures by volume and therefore is supposedly less accurate and has a tendency to shear extruded powders.

I don't own one of those electronic things... I hand weigh my charges. I don't do enough volume to warrant the expense.

Ian

[PaulS]

Unless you buy a top of the line electronic scale and accessories you only get +/- 1/10 grain accuracy (manufacturer's specs) and they are slower than anything you do by hand.
I don't own one so maybe someone who does own one can tell us why.

[steve4102]

Unless you buy a top of the line electronic scale and accessories you only get +/- 1/10 grain accuracy (manufacturer's specs) and they are slower than anything you do by hand.
I don't own one so maybe someone who does own one can tell us why.

  The 1/10th of a grain accuracy is a guarantee by the manufacturer.  This does not mean that 1/10th of a grain +/- is the best it will do.  I have the Lyman 1200 and it is dead nuts, balls on, with my RCBS 505 each and every time.  It is quick and easy and I wouldn't be without it.  While the powder is dumping I seat the previously charged brass, makes quick work of my loads.  No more dump it light and trickle the rest. I will add that if I had to do it all over again I would go with the RCBS.  They have come down it price since I purchased my Lyman and it it supposed to be faster.  Plus, you can't beat RCBS for customer service.  Working up load in small increments is also a snap, set it and push a button.

[qballs]

I bought a Lyman 1200 dps II the other day.  I do not know what I did beforehand.  It makes everything go much faster, as I am seating a bullet while the next charge is being metered out.  It was my best reloading purchase yet!

[KN]

One more for the Lyman 1200! I love mine. Makes easy work for volume loading for p-doggin trips. Especially if you are using stick powders.    KN

[quickdtoo]

I've had a Lyman 1200 DPSII for about a year now, it works great, the only bad thing about it is the 30 minute warmup time and cleaning could be easier. If I were buying now, I'd get the RCBS Chargemaster Combo, faster and easier to clean....and it's an RCBS!! Check out ricciardelli's post on it, he's a dyed in the wool old school handloader, he now uses an RCBS Chargemaster. Unless someone has it on sale, Midsouth has the best price I've seen.

Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,89877.msg546336.html#msg546336

http://www.6mmbr.com/powderdispensers01.html

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0004498923

[pascalp]

+1 for RCBS combo master.
Quick warmup, calibration not too painfull, easy cleaning.
Splitable scale may be a real advantage.

[Lvl1trauma]

I don't think the lifetime warranty applies to the electronic dispensor. I just sent back my electronic scale back from RCBS after a few years of use. They repaired it and sent me back a note saying electronic scales are only covered by a 1 year warranty. I thought it was covered by the lifetime warranty but I guess not.

Lvl1trauma

[Questor]

This still doesn't answer my question as to why they are used. Is there any measurable improvement in accuracy when using these versus a powder measure? It would have to be very slight, because I get what is considered excellent accuracy with a measure. Is it only bench rest shooters that are using these electronic scales? or shooters of cartridges with very light charges like .25ACP?

[Rum River]

I have the RCBS where the dispenser communicates with the scale via an infrared link.

I got mine to load my varmint rounds, or any other high-volume loading where I'm using stick powder and want weighed charges.

If you're already hand weighing your charges, you won't notice any accuracy improvement with the electronic units.

Like others already mentioned, you get weighed charges at the push of a button, so you can multitask while loading.

[Bullseye]

I have the Pact scale and dispenser.  The powder measure will beat it in a time test hands down and I still use the measure for fine grained powders.

I use the dispenser for long grain extruded powders.  With these powders my measure will vary by .3-.4 grains.  Will it make an accuracy difference, don't know since I never did a test.

This was one of the last pieces of equipment I bought because it was rather expensive and I did not have to have it.  Before it I weighed by hand or used the measure and to the variance.

I am I glad I have it?  Yep.

[Jack Crevalle]

This still doesn't answer my question as to why they are used. Is there any measurable improvement in accuracy when using these versus a powder measure? It would have to be very slight, because I get what is considered excellent accuracy with a measure. Is it only bench rest shooters that are using these electronic scales? or shooters of cartridges with very light charges like .25ACP?

To answer your question, no, there is no difference in the accuracy (I'm assuming here you're talking about the accuracy of the measuring device and not of the firearm) of an electronic measure versus a volumetric measure if one weighs each and every charge thrown by the volumetric measure.

I have read some reports of given volumetric measures giving results better than the published +/-.1 grain precision of reloading scales however my redding BR which is supposed to be a very good volumetric measure can not do this, at least not with the powders I've used in it.

[williamlayton]

I will tell you why I choose an electronic powder measure and you can evaluate the thoughts.
I like the thoughts of a sinngle stage loader, mine is a Hornady.
I like the thought of electronic over mechanical because of constant charges, that did not say more accurate.
I have no concern about warm-up time and i have no concern about speed of measure as I am doing something while the measure works.
Mine is a Pact, which most are but branded under manuf. names, such as Lee, etc.
Blessings